cue making equipment LATHE QUESTIONS!

[ugotactionTX]

I would like to do some minor repair, tips, ferrules, wraps, stuff like that. At some point I want to try building a complete cue myself.

I have a chance ot get a 6" Atlas(craftsman) 101.20140 with 36" between centers.

I know that a large spindle would be required for some operations but this
has only a 3/4 " bore. I have had lots of trouble finding a lathe somewhere
semi close and this one is local

Do you think it would be a good lathe for around 700.00 it is in very good
shape. NO SHIPPING!!!

thanks for your help

 

[RDCustomCues]

Although you can do a lot with that lathe for starting out i would suggest a cue repair lathe. It probably will be cheaper in the long run if you have to buy a lot of tooling and accessories for the atlas. Also if you decide to do repairs at local tourney you will want a portable lathe

 

[DaveK]

If it's in reasonable shape then I'd go for it. The nice thing about a metal lathe as opposed to a cue lathe is that there is a better after-market for metal lathes. I'd think you could get every penny back out if you change your mind, assuming you don't over-pay in the first place. If the Atlas has Timkin bearings and a quick change and is in reasonable shape then it easily worth 700. That would be an OK price for a bushing model with change gears, imo.

Here is a great site with information on the various Atlas models : http://www.lathes.co.uk/

Here is another site with excellent advice on judging the condition of old machines : http://www.mermac.com/advicenew.html

Dave

 

[cueman]

If it's in reasonable shape then I'd go for it. The nice thing about a metal lathe as opposed to a cue lathe is that there is a better after-market for metal lathes. I'd think you could get every penny back out if you change your mind, assuming you don't over-pay in the first place. If the Atlas has Timkin bearings and a quick change and is in reasonable shape then it easily worth 700. That would be an OK price for a bushing model with change gears, imo.

Here is a great site with information on the various Atlas models : http://www.lathes.co.uk/

Here is another site with excellent advice on judging the condition of old machines : http://www.mermac.com/advicenew.html

Dave

Your advice about after market sale value and getting every penny back is true if he leaves it as a metal lathe just like it is with few improvements. If he converts it into a cue lathe then all those additional items that are cue specific are useless to metal workers. Also unless he buys all addtional metal working parts for it used, he will not get full value out of them later. Example put a new $400 chuck on it and in a few months it might add $200 to the value as a metal or cue lathe. Either way that lathe appears to be a good value like it is. But expecting to convert something over and get every penny back later is unrealistic in most cases. Not to mention what someones labor is worth while tinkering with it.

 

[DaveK]

Your advice about after market sale value and getting every penny back is true if he leaves it as a metal lathe just like it is with few improvements.

Brand new that lathe might have gone for $400. Now it's worth $700 many years later. In a few years it will still be worth $700 - $1000, I'd guess. That's the return-on-investment I'm refering to.

Not to mention what someones labor is worth while tinkering with it.

As a hobby it doesn't really matter .... as a job it matters a lot. I was assuming the former.

Dave

 

[Eric Wynne]

Check Out Unique

For repairs the Unique Cue Companion 3 is great ... Works well and does everything you would want except taper ... I have one with only 4 or 5 hours on it cause a week later I bought a Porper B for the same price as the repair lathe but have modified the porper extensively , quick change tool posts x 2 , 5" Bison 4 jaw scroll chuck bored to 1.480 '',Porper just happened to have a prototype indexable backplate , and some other custom made goodies like horizontal router holder ... and coring attachments ... For making your own cues you should look into some more machinery such as Unique's Taper Shaper or Cue Monster which will do evrything you want ... With CNC ability you can copy or create any taper or inlay you can think of ... Check out WilleeCue ... he has all this stuff and makes a darn good cue , probably the most bang for your buck on the planet ... for real ...